For flatbeds, trucks, and other vehicles, the tarpaulin can be said to be an essential thing in the transportation process. It can play the function of wind, sun, rain, and snow, to protect the safety of the goods on the vehicle. Depending on the size of the cargo compartment and the different vehicle scenarios, the choice of tarpaulin will also be different. So, what is the best material for a tarpaulin?
How to choose a tarpaulin?
Water resistance is the first factor to consider. When most truck drivers choose a tarpaulin, the first thing they look for is the waterproof performance of the tarpaulin. After all, for flatbed trucks, the tarpaulin is used to prevent rain. We all know that the quality of waterproof performance will directly affect the safety of the cargo. Once the rainwater penetrates the cargo compartment and wets the cargo, it will cause economic losses. Therefore, when most users buy tarpaulins, they must first consider waterproofing.
In addition to its excellent rainproof performance, the sunscreen and shading properties of the tarpaulin are also particularly important. Especially in the hot summer when transporting fruits and vegetables, once the sun protection performance is poor and the sun cannot be isolated, the fruit and vegetable products are prone to spoilage or drying over time.
Usually, when we fix the tarpaulin, we need to stretch the tarpaulin vigorously and bind it to each binding hook of the trailer. At this time, the tarpaulin needs to bear a lot of tension. Moreover, the working conditions on the transportation road are extremely complicated and the environment is unstable. Because the tarpaulin is exposed to the outdoors for a long time, it will encounter severe weather and harsh working conditions, so its wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and tear resistance must also be strong enough to resist various weather and working conditions, then the service life will be relatively longer.
What types of tarpaulins are there?
PVC tarpaulin:
At present, the mainstream tarpaulins on the market are mostly PVC tarpaulins. Common PVC tarpaulin fabrics are made of high-strength polyester yarn. Polyester material has excellent corrosion resistance, wear resistance, high strength, and high durability.
The PVC tarp is sprayed with polyvinyl chloride so that the fabric forms a waterproof layer, which can effectively prevent rainwater from penetrating and can achieve the effect of no leakage.
This PVC tarpaulin is excellent in terms of abrasion resistance and waterproof performance and is one of the most common tarpaulins on the market.
Although PVC tarpaulin is excellent in water resistance and abrasion resistance, in terms of weight, the weight of the tarpaulin is still relatively large. Even for a truck of 4 meters 2, it will be difficult to cover the tarpaulin when it is operated by one person. PVC tarpaulin is more suitable for multiple people to operate.
PE tarpaulin:
If you want a certain degree of water resistance while also wanting to take into account a good lightweight, then PE tarpaulin will be a good choice. The production of PE tarpaulin generally adopts color-striped cloth, the raw material is high-density polyethylene, and PE film is coated on both sides of PE woven cloth. Its biggest feature is that it is very light, the price is more affordable, and it also has a basic waterproof effect.
However, the wear resistance of this PE tarpaulin is relatively lacking. If it is often operated under harsh and complicated working conditions, it may be easily damaged after repeated use.
Film-attached tarpaulin:
Some truck drivers use film-attached tarpaulin. It is characterized by being lightweight and more durable and waterproof than ordinary tarpaulins. This kind of tarpaulin has a layer of anti-wear coating inside, and the tarpaulin is designed in one piece, which can directly cover the truck.
The film-attached tarp can be said to take into account the wear resistance of PVC tarp and the lightweight characteristics of PE tarpaulin. However, if there are damaged holes and you want to repair them, no matter how good the glue is, it is prone to instability and falling off. The time it falls off just depends on the different glue.
Knife scraping fabric:
The use of knife-scraping fabric is also popular now. This kind of tarpaulin is made of chemically synthesized material and is composed of three parts. The uppermost and lowermost two parts are usually made of PVC materials, and the middle layer is made of light-guiding fiber stickers. The three are compressed together by a specific compression method to form a scraping cloth.
It can be seen from the name that the knife-scraping cloth has outstanding wear resistance, high strength, good ductility, and strong flexibility. It is not easily affected by corrosion and has a certain waterproof ability. The surface of this kind of knife-scraping cloth is very smooth, and it feels good to the touch. It can play a good role in covering and protecting vehicles and open-air goods.
Three-proof fabric:
The last three-proof cloth is coated with PVC, PTFE, flame-retardant silica gel, and other refractory materials on the surface of the refractory fiber, and at the same time, it is added with various chemical additives such as anti-mold agent, anti-aging agent, antistatic agent, etc. It is made by heat sealing at high temperatures, so it has the function of being fireproof, waterproof, and mildewproof.
Among them, refractory fiber makes it has a fireproof effect. PVC, PTFE, and silica gel have a good waterproof effect, and chemical additives such as anti-mold agents and anti-aging agents make it have an excellent anti-mold effect. It is precise because of the combination of various materials, Coating with a special process can finally achieve the effect of three defenses.
Generally, the tarpaulin is divided into two parts: the top cloth and the side cloth. You can use it according to your own transportation needs, local climate, and types of goods. For example, the top fabric can use PVC tarp with excellent water resistance and wear resistance, while the side fabric can use canvas or PE tarpaulin, knife scraping cloth, etc., which can bring better results.
Of course, PVC tarp is the most widely used in the market at present. Although it will be a little heavy in terms of weight, it is moderately priced and has excellent waterproof and wear-resistant performance, so it is deeply loved by truck drivers.
